| An entire generation of teenagers may become | | | | What is E.M.R.? |
| senile or have brain cancer at the peak of | | | | |
| their lives due to cellular phone usage and | | | | Answer: E.M.R. refers to Electromagnetic |
| other wireless technologies.These are the | | | | Radio-frequency Radiation which is the |
| findings of the study published in | | | | potentially dangerous frequency emitted by |
| Environmental Health Perspectives. | | | | cellular or mobile phones. High frequency |
| | | | ionizing forms of radiation exists as X-rays, |
| | | | Gamma rays and forms of nuclear radiation |
| | | | known to be hazardous . Non-ionizing |
| The study, based on intensive use of | | | | radiation of lower frequency ionizing forms |
| cellular phones, may cause apprehension in | | | | such as early cell phones were thought to be |
| Western countries because it reveals new ways | | | | safe. That view has changed since cell phones |
| in which microwaves can affect our | | | | and mobile phones have grown in strength from |
| health.Leif Salford, the researcher who led | | | | low-level radio waves to high-level |
| the study that was conducted at Lund | | | | microwaves. No scientific study has proven |
| University in Sweden, claims that the fact | | | | conclusively that the use of cellular phones |
| that we voluntarily expose our brain to cell | | | | is hazardous to human health, yet continued |
| phone radiation is ?the largest biological | | | | use of higher frequency phones could |
| experiment in the history of the world.? | | | | adversely affect the central nervous system, |
| Professor Salford fears that as the wireless | | | | diminish the effectiveness of the immune |
| technology becomes more popular people will | | | | system and facilitate the development of |
| "drown in a sea of microwaves.?The study | | | | cancer according to scientific research. |
| tested the leakage of albumin in the | | | | Perhaps this is why governments and health |
| circulation of blood in the brain. Prior | | | | organizations worldwide are spending millions |
| studies of the subject have focused on the | | | | of dollars towards on-going research to |
| possibility that cell phones heat brain | | | | determine the long term effects of exposure |
| tissue thereby causing cancer. But the many | | | | to E.M.R from cellular and mobile phones.What |
| studies trying to determine whether cell | | | | is S.A.R.? |
| phones cause cancer have not been | | | | |
| conclusive.Thus, the cell phone industry in | | | | Answer: S.A.R. or Specific Absorption Rate |
| the US has managed to minimize findings | | | | of Radiation is used to measure the amount of |
| regarding cellular radiation effects, but now | | | | radiation that the human body absorbs from |
| the World Health Organization has taken over | | | | any source, including cellular phones. The |
| the research.Exposure to cellular radiation | | | | F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission) |
| affects the cells"This study proves again | | | | sets limits as to what they deemed were safe |
| that interference with cell activity of the | | | | levels of radiation from cell phones. In the |
| body does not necessarily occur with high | | | | beginning when analog phones were 800-900 MHZ |
| exposure to radiation that leads to heating | | | | of power, most of the cell phones |
| of the area of exposure but can also occur | | | | manufactured met these safe guidelines. |
| with low exposure" says Professor Rafi | | | | However as manufacturers raised the power of |
| Korenstein, a scientist from the University | | | | their phones up to 1800-2000MHZ and analog |
| of Tel-Aviv.In a study published by Professor | | | | was replaced by digital, the majority of the |
| Korenstein with a number of other scientists | | | | cell phones now exceed the safe levels set by |
| six months ago (Bioelectromagnetics, 2003), | | | | the F.C.C. In fact the manufacturers continue |
| it was proven that long-term exposure to cell | | | | to lobby to have the levels raised, so they |
| phone radiation can affect the duplication of | | | | may keep increasing the power of the phones. |
| hereditary substance creating during the | | | | The highest S. A. R. in the body is in the |
| cell-division process, thereby increasing the | | | | ear, thus the concern about excessive cell |
| risk for cancer.The Head of the Cancer | | | | phone use and the strength of the signal.How |
| Department at the Israeli Ministry of Health, | | | | is S.A.R. measured on a cell phone? |
| Dr. Mike Brichna, disagrees: in studies | | | | |
| conducted on mice, researchers found changes | | | | Answer: When a call is made or received |
| in brain activity. The problem is to prove | | | | there is a band of radiation from the |
| that what harms mice brains will cause the | | | | antenna, half of which disappears into space. |
| same effect in human brains. Regardless, the | | | | The remaining radiation is around the skull, |
| doctor has three pieces of advice for people | | | | face and ear area of the user and runs |
| using cell phones: | | | | through the circuitry of the phone when |
| | | | transmitting the call. A dummy head is |
| | | | immersed in a gel-like solution similar to |
| | | | body fluid and a cell phone is attached to |
| Always talk with a wide open antenna. | | | | the ear. Readings are taken from the antenna |
| | | | to determine the S.A.R. strength which will |
| Keep the antenna as far away from your ear | | | | vary from phone to phone and proximity to the |
| as you can. | | | | closest signal tower.Bob Shobi is a freelance |
| | | | writer providing information and research the |
| Use speakers whenever possible. | | | | hazards of cellular phones. |
| | | | |
| | | | To find out more about the dangers, get more |
| | | | cell phone radiation information, or check |
| Some common questions and answers to learn | | | | out how dangers your phone is with the common |
| more about this issue: | | | | phones SAR chart. |
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